Posted on 04/27/2011 8:47:27 PM PDT by stolinsky
Something may be either helpful or hurtful, depending on the intentions of the user. If I see a man limping, I can offer him a cane to help him get around, or I can use the cane to beat him bloody. An idea can be used to diagnose and treat human suffering, or it can be used to stigmatize and slander the sufferer − and increase the suffering. For example, take PTSD.
Dave Grossman, Lt. Col., USA (Ret.) is a former Army Ranger who became a clinical psychologist. Having looked at combat trauma from both sides, he is a true expert − as opposed to a self-anointed expert − on post-traumatic stress disorder. He has written and lectured widely. He knows what he is talking about, a rare quality today.
I recently read an article on PTSD by Col. Grossman. In addition to informing me, it also angered and depressed me. It described how anti-military activists are trying to use PTSD to stigmatize military personnel and veterans.
Col. Grossman referred to an article in the New York Post by Ralph Peters, Lt. Col., USA (Ret.), author, columnist, and military commentator. Peters’ article was titled, “The New Lepers.” Peters condemns the New York Times’ “obscene bid to smear our veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan as mad killers.” Peters doesn’t mince words. He concludes, “A long-standing goal of the left, recently invigorated, has been to drive a wedge between our military and our society.”
(Excerpt) Read more at stolinsky.com ...
It takes a special person to volunteer for the ARMY or MARINES. You know damn well that you will be seeing combat; and put into situation where you will be shot at, and blown up and can’t return fire in most cases. This huge distortion of the GWOT (global war on terrorism) , and the PC nightmare that has ensued is putting even more stress on our soldiers today. I believe this COL, is just out to make a name for himself like everyone else. I have 3 x deployments and 10 years in the military and I’m fine. I live a normal life, and my family isn’t in shambles. We need to look at the war requirements and WHO we are letting in these days. I also think that because the military has become so RISK ADVERSE and PC, we are doing more harm than good for our soldiers mental state. Are we the peace corps or do we go out and engage, kill and destroy our enemies? All of this gray, in between nation building PC BS is destroying our military. I wouldn’t advise any young kid now to join the Army or Marines, maybe the AF because that really isn’t the military. Get your education and stay out of dumbo PC land.
” I wouldn’t advise any young kid now to join the Army or Marines...”
I was in the Navy and got shot at, missed mortars fired at me and spent an interesting 1 1/2 years in DaNang, Viet Nam, one of the premier vacation spots back in the late ‘60’s.
In contrast with your advice, one time I asked our NCOIC, a Marine Gunnery Sgt, “why are you still in, Gunny?” It was clear that this guy (still pretty young) could make it big in civilian life.
His response: “Because I think I can make a difference.”
And that’s why good young people should still go into the Marines, the Army, and, yes, the Navy. Even the Air Farce or Coast Guard, because they can make each service better.
ping
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